TORONTO/QUÉBEC — History will be made in 2026 when Université Laval and the City of Québec host the U SPORTS Final 8 women’s basketball championship for a record-setting fifth time.
Québec City has hosted the 1987, 1991, 1996 and 2015 U SPORTS women’s basketball championship tournaments. The 11-game tournament will be contested at the Amphithéâtre Desjardins-Université Laval March 4-8, 2026.
“Québec is a basketball hotbed, and U SPORTS is excited to bring our national women’s basketball championship back to la Vieille Capitale for a record fifth time in 2026,” said U SPORTS Chief Executive Officer Pierre Arsenault. Fans and businesses in Québec City have a tradition of supporting U SPORTS championships. In the past year alone, we saw record-setting crowds in women’s rugby and sellouts at the men’s basketball Final 8. We know that fans and student-athletes will have a fantastic experience thanks to the professionals at Université Laval.”
The 54th edition of the U SPORTS Final 8 pits the eight best Canadian university women’s basketball teams in an 11-game tournament for the right to hoist the Bronze Baby first awarded in 1922 that remains one of the most prestigious trophies in Canadian sport.
QUOTES
Julie Dionne, Athletic Director – Université Laval:
« La confiance que nous témoigne U SPORTS encore cette année est la preuve que l’Université Laval est un site de choix pour la tenue d’un championnat national. Nous avons les installations et l’expertise pour faire du 8 ULTIME féminin en 2026 un événement unique avec la signature qui nous caractérise, comme en fait foi l’immense succès connu en mars dernier avec la présentation de l’édition masculine. En tant qu’ancienne joueuse du Rouge et Or, je ne peux qu’être fébrile à l’idée d’accueillir la crème du basketball féminin universitaire chez nous. »
Guillaume Giroux, Head Coach – Université Laval Rouge et Or:
« Recevoir un championnat U SPORTS à la maison, c’est un cadeau que nous faisons à nos étudiantes-athlètes, à nos partenaires de longue date et surtout à nos fidèles partisans. La communauté de basketball dans la région est en constante effervescence. Elle est de tous nos événements et il est fort à parier qu’elle répondra à l’invitation en mars 2026. Nous nous assurerons, comme équipe locale, de leur donner le spectacle qu’elle mérite. C’est à la fois excitant et stimulant pour les saisons qui viennent, nous devrons bien nous préparer. »
The 2025 Indochino U SPORTS Basketball Final 8 presented by Victory is March 13-16 in Vancouver. All games will be broadcast on CBC/Radio-Canada Sports digital platforms with the gold medal game broadcast on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Tickets for this year’s championship are available for purchase at USPORTSTickets.ca.
Stay tuned for the unveiling of the championship logos and ticket information in January 2025. For more exciting updates as Laval prepares to welcome the best in Canadian university women’s basketball, visit USPORTS.ca.
Facility photos and headshots of speakers are available for download at USPORTSMedia.ca.
About U SPORTS
U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 15,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches vie for 23 national championships in 13 different sports. U SPORTS also provides high performance international opportunities at FISU Winter and Summer World University Games, World University Championships, University World Cups and various educational initiatives.
U SPORTS works in collaboration with 58 members and four conferences as well as the Canadian sport system and Corporate Canada on the growth and delivery of university sport to student-athletes across the country.
For further information, please contact:
John Bower
Director, Marketing and Communications
U SPORTS
780-667-5646
jbower@usports.ca